'Twilight' fans can vamp it up at Indian Lakes Resort

While everyone else in the suburbs packed their Halloween decorations back into storage, Jamie Martin scoured every store she could find that still stocked fangs, spider webs, cauldrons and candelabras.

That's because she knew one of the year's most haunting evenings had yet to arrive. And to usher it in this Friday, Nov. 21, Martin will help host (and decorate) "Twilight Madness Gothic Prom-ier," an all-ages party that celebrates the release of the vampire film "Twilight" at Hilton Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale.

Based on the best-selling book by Stephenie Meyer, "Twilight" already has drawn legions of fans who recently packed Orland Square mall in Orland Park to meet the film's star, Robert Pattinson. And this Friday, Indian Lakes will offer vampire fiends a special overnight package that includes a goth-themed party and private screening of the film at Hollywood Boulevard in Woodridge.

More than 250 guests already have reserved spots for the party, which will happen in the resort's ballroom. Surrounded by goth-themed decor, "Twilight" fans can sip red drinks like apple martinis and bloody marys (or virgin punch for those under 21) and taste themed appetizers like Vampire Anti-bites and Werewolf Crustinnis.

Staff from the resort's Spa Vargas will offer vampire-style makeovers and fans can sign up for Barnes & Noble's waiting list for the next installment in the "Twilight" book series.

This isn't the first time Indian Lakes has made a fuss over a film. Last spring, the resort hosted its first movie-themed package based on "Sex and the City" and discovered a formula for success.

After that, Martin said, local residents asked for more. So after planning recent children's packages for films like Disney's "High School Musical 3" and "Camp Rock," Martin and her staff knew they'd found their groove.

"We kind of look for what's going to be a hit," she said. "It's great because now people are looking to our hotel to do fun things like this."

Following Friday's party, guests will board luxury buses and sit for a private screening of "Twilight" at Hollywood Boulevard theater in Woodridge. After the film, the buses will take fans back to Indian Lakes for an overnight stay.

Martin said turnout for the film celebrations has grown larger than she ever imagined. These days, residents actually send e-mails asking Indian Lakes to plan parties.

"We hoped for it to get this big, obviously," Martin said. "But for the first party last spring we didn't think we'd book more than 20 packages. Now there are more than 67 packages (250 people) for "Twilight" and that's because now I think people are really impressed."